[Riot]

I did attend the Gluck conference on furosemide today. Very nice. Toxicologists, drug researchers, equine researchers, clinical vets from sport horse and racing practices, and the inevitable group of exhausted pHD students.

Unfortunately, like the Disease Diagnostic Center conferences, this one was not filmed to put on the internet. Much was detailed toxicology, pharmacology, research data review anyway.

Was a review of reams of good scientific literature and documented TB/harness racing experience regarding EIPH from the 1960's on (with a glance to the origins of documented EIPH, before it was called EIPH), especially the good research involving thousands of race horses in multiple jurisdictions, and the NYRA track information available from before and after the lasix permission ruling.

Causes of EIPH, what does and does not make it worse, what is currently accepted and what is disproven. The proven measurable incidence of occurrence in exercising horses of all disciplines.

Mostly the last half hour was a review of what is considered proven and definitive in the scientific literature regarding the effects and efficacy of lasix in the race horse, regarding attenuating EIPH. In other words, what is pretty indisputably considered true.

Also discussed was disproven old wives tales regarding lasix effect on dilution of urine, why performance is increased and how much (measurable) ability to mask drugs, why the holding period is 4 hours, why performance improves in the horse and by how much, why the dose is what it is in the racehorse, etc (background stuff)

Some interesting recent stuff about the best efficacy of lasix for initial and chronic use (at what distances) - there is a distinct variance of shown efficacy regarding horse performance between sprint (most), middle distance, and distance (least). Interesting couple pieces of info that would help trainers starting young horses.

And yes - the attempt to eliminate lasix by a few in American racing was discussed in the Q & A following. The science is undeniably and unquestionably heavily on the other side of that issue at this point. Nobody present thought forbidding the use of furosemide in the race horse would be remotely good for the health and welfare of the horse, or the breed. And the current body of science clearly shows why.

Question on if toxicologists/pharmacologists were working on any other drugs to attenuate EIPH, answer: not currently, as furosemide safe and efficacious at this point. Discussion of use of blood pressure alteration via pharmacology, but too many untoward side effects and less efficacy this point.